Social Media

Summer Country Jam 2013 Coming to Rochelle

7/23/2013 3:00:00 PM

By Kris Wexell

The Rochelle Area Chamber of Commerce & Business Development and 102.3 The Coyote has announced the line-up for a major concert event on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at the Rochelle Municipal Airport. Tickets are on sale for $20 at the Chamber, 102.3 Coyote Studios, First National Bank, and Flight Deck Bar & Grill. Only 2,000 tickets will be sold and the event is projected to sell out. Summer Country Jam 2013 begins at 3pm. Bands are scheduled at 3pm; 4:15pm, 6:25pm, and 8:30pm.

Performers include 2012 Texaco Country Showdown Finalist Missy Vail; from Texas Kim Anthony; local entertainer Brian Lavender; and Nashville’s rising star Chase Rice. Chase Rice recently announced he will opening shows for Carrie Underwood in September and headlining his first nationwide tour this fall. His current single How She Rolls is moving up the charts. Rice co-wrote the Florida Georgia Line number one single Cruise and is working on a new album. Kim Anthony is recording new music with the legendary Oak Ridge Boys.

Immediately following the Chase Rice performance, an After Party will begin at the adjoining Flight Deck Bar & Grill at Chicagoland Skydiving Center from 11pm-1am featuring a local 7-member band Back Country Roads. BCR is a top 40 country cover/original band from the area that has been playing packed venues since 2009.

Summer Country Jam 2013 is sponsored by Budweiser and Pepsi. Proceeds will benefit Rochelle Chamber and The United Way of Rock River Valley. The event is expected to have a significant effect on the airport, local economy and participating Chamber businesses.

“This is the largest event ever sponsored by the Chamber. It will attract country music fans from beyond Rochelle, said Peggy Friday, Executive Director. “We created a Will Call to accommodate the large numbers of country music fans purchasing tickets by phone from out of town and state”, she added.

The Brian Lavender Band will open for Chase Rice. Lavender, a rising country talent from Sycamore whose music is featured on the Coyote, is gaining attention because of his strong southern style. Lavender’s CD Country Girls Do It Better is available for $10 at the Chamber. $2 from each sale until the day of the concert will be donated to the Chamber and member United Way agencies.

Gates open at noon. A food court of local vendors will include Alfanos Italian Restaurant, Beacon on the Green, Flight Deck Bar & Grill, Country School Restaurant, and Off the Wall Café. A variety of Budweiser and Pepsi products will be on sale throughout the day. Vendors are members of the Chamber and will keep 100% of their sales. Proceeds from beverages will be used to support the Chamber. Food and drink tickets can be purchased at the event for $1.

Olivia Dvorak, 1st Runner-Up at this year’s Texaco Country Showdown in Rochelle will perform at the food court. Olivia is a young singer/songwriter from Rockford. She will be singing original songs from her CD recorded in Nashville Don’t Come Knockin. Her music is available for download on ITunes.

Ample parking is available on-site for $5. The Holiday Inn Express, 1240 South Dement Road, is offering a special discounted Summer Country Jam Room Rate and complimentary shuttle for guests of the hotel. Event is rain or shine.

Some 100 volunteers will help make Summer Country Jam 2013 a great family concert experience. Security will be provided by the Rochelle Police Department, making the concert venue safe and fun for all ages. The venue is open seating, so everyone is encouraged to bring lawn chairs and arrive early.

The Rochelle Municipal Airport and Chicagoland Skydiving Center will be fully operational during the concert. A number of planes are expected to fly-in for the event. Skydivers will be landing in the drop zones throughout the day. Motorcycles are welcome.

Lights, sound, and stage will be provided by Tower Sound of German Valley.

The Chamber and 102.3 The Coyote announced a major contest last Friday morning to encourage early ticket sales. Everyone who buys a ticket before August 1 will be entered in a drawing to win VIP Status at the concert. 8 winners will be chosen at random and their seats upgraded to front row. They will also receive back stage passes for select meet & greets, VIP parking, an autographed special-edition contest poster, and a photograph with the performers. Only those who purchase tickets before August 1 will be eligible to win one of 8 prize packages.